Branching Out

The situation could not logically continue and, eventually in 1875 at a meeting called by Aston Park Unity and other teams from the surrounding area a call was made for a unified code of competition. In initially adopting the Sheffield Code it was stated that:

“we felt severely the want of union and the inconvenience of playing different association rules.”³⁹
However this arrangement lasted only to 1877 when the Sheffield Code was rejected in favour of the London, now termed as The Football Association rules which had been compiled in 1863.⁴⁰ It was an off-shoot of this organisation, The Birmingham Football Association which introduced the first structured team competition in the recreational world of Aston Manor, when in 1877 it formulated a challenge cup, at the cost of 50 guineas.⁴¹ Originally contested by sixteen clubs, many from the Manor, it was, in its inaugural season a 12 a side competition. As a result of its initial popularity it, now as a eleven a-side format grew in popularity, so much so that in 1887 it became a regionalised league competition.⁴²

There can be little doubt that this initial competition, moving the game away from the friendly was the catalyst for many others that followed. For, prior to any organised competitions being inaugurated, especially those based on a league premise it was, as already indicated the friendly that dominated. The local newspapers carried many requests from team secretaries asking for fixtures. Once such competitions as The Aston and District League; The Aston Manor Cup; The Birmingham and District Association Challenge Cup and Aston Villa Challenge Cup Competition,⁴³ this latter competition being, as the name suggests inaugurated by Aston Villa had became established, the friendly format went into decline, though it still remained as a means of arrangement right up to 1911. That it was still a relevant form of fixture arranging can be verified when it is noted that in 1897, for example Aston Manor Star, Avenue Villa, Church Excelsior, Star FC ⁴⁴ and Clifton Villa all requested pleas for matches⁴⁵, whilst Victoria Swifts were pleading for away fixtures, perhaps because of a lack of a home pitch!!⁴⁶ There were however many other, smaller and less well publicised competitions that were arranged that seem to have lasted only a short time, perhaps being played for only once. The local press, for example on occasions drew attention to such as The Evelyn Cecil Shield, The Ian McGregor Cup,⁴⁷ The Ansells Shield⁴⁸ and The Park Challenge Cup,⁴⁹ none of these seemingly having no more than a passing history.

The Aston Villa Cup interesting though appears to have become a competition that was seemingly dominated by ‘works teams’. Certainly from its inauguration in 1898 by 1911 there is little evidence of any other type of club participating. Interestingly though there seems to have been only two Manor sides definitely involved, Park Mills and Excelsior Works and one possible, Britannia Works.⁵⁰ It would seem that the Manor was not a fruitful area for works teams though there was one, Aston Postman’s FC who competed in the Postman’s Challenge Cup, a competition that was otherwise dominated by Birmingham based sides.⁵¹ Though these fixtures were almost certainly of immense importance to the participants they, in reality provided little more than the proverbial ‘one man and his dog’ in attendances. However in the case of The Birmingham and District Challenge Cup some matches did really prove to be an attraction, often drawing quite substantial crowds. Indeed a fixture not even featuring an Aston Manor side, between Saltley College and Derby contested on the Lower Grounds provided for an attendance of some four thousand.⁵²

In regards to the ‘friendly’ however it would be wrong to believe that these informal fixtures, arranged by invite were limited to the local area. There are many instances where teams travelled some distance to play. Apart from the Congregationalists already mentioned Aston Holte Wanderers were reported as having visited Walsall⁵³ whilst Aston Manor actually travelled to Wales.⁵⁴ The friendly was also a convenient vehicle by which charity could be advanced. The ‘charity fixture’ seemingly was a regular feature in the football world of the Manor, such as when a ‘derby’ was arranged between Aston Unity and Aston Villa, in aid of the Aston Villa Bed Fund.⁵⁵

For some clubs though, their existence was short. That so many failed to sustain themselves could well have been due not only to a lack of success on the field but more likely to the financial stresses of paying for kit and obtaining pitches etc. For one team, The Excelsior a heavy defeat by a local rival, The Aston Shakespeare, 6-0 seemed to have pitched them into crisis. In an attempt to regain former glories, its members chose to relocate the club, which saw them leave Aston Manor and establish their headquarters at the Gaiety Palace Music Hall in Birmingham. It was said that the members had received ‘every attention from the proprietor’, presumably through financial backing which allowed them to continue to fulfill their fixtures within Aston Manor.⁵⁶ However it would seem that to lose to Aston Shakespeare may not have been too much of a surprise. For during this time this particular club appears to have been very successful, competing as it did in all the major competitions. They are recorded as playing in the English Cup (what many at the time termed the FA Cup) against such as Selly Oak Athletic and Warwick County and in the Birmingham Cup against Shrewsbury Town. That they were so successful perhaps may be attributable to the fact that they had access to a purpose laid pitch, on the grounds of the Aston Cross public house, for which an entrance fee of 2d for spectators was levied.⁵⁷ During the season 1889 the team is recorded as taking on Burton Alma, Oldbury Town, The 1^st Warwicks (presumably from the regiment), Leonard Unity and The Mint, again presumably from Birmingham, both at first team and reserve levels. However, now it would appear the entrance charge fluctuated according to the importance of the match. Though the standard entry remained at 2d for matches against better known teams such as Burton, perhaps in the hope of raising extra finance it was raised to 3d.⁵⁸

For others though, the problem of obtaining a suitable playing area did not prove so difficult a task. For those who were organised to play during the week in such as The ‘Wednesday League’, a competitive structure for those employed in trades where weekend working was the norm must have found it considerably easier, most matches being played during the weekend. This league, run under the auspices, as were the vast majority of clubs and competitions, of The Birmingham FA did not initially concern any Aston Manor side. However, as the period progressed one particular club seems to have emerged, Aston Wednesday. Though no evidence can be found to indicate the origins of this club it is certainly recorded that from 1909 onwards it fulfilled fixtures against such teams as Redditch, Saltley Traders, City Wednesday and Corporation Trams.⁵⁹ This club, which appears to have been the Manor’s sole midweek football representative from the middle years of the 1890s also competed in a charity knock-out competition, entitled The Wilkinson Charity Cup.⁶⁰ Again, as seems the case for many of the smaller teams sadly their exploits went unrecorded from within the pages of the local press so there is no means by which we can gauge either their longevity or, if they had any success. Nevertheless for the vast majority of teams, from whatever origin the problem of finding a pitch was one that had to be solved. Certainly, when the game was essentially, in terms of organisation fragmented any land that was both affordable and of practical size and condition could be used. However, once the game began to be structured and fundamental guidelines laid down this must have been a matter of great difficulty for many who wished to compete.

Certainly, given the number of teams that were formed and managed to compete it appears that Aston Park and other areas of ‘grass’ must have been extremely well utilised. It would seem that by pure necessity some teams, though originating from the Manor must have been forced to play in adjacent locations, Aston Clifton, and Aston Park Rangers for example played in the Erdington area whilst Aston Casuals, during 1903 are recorded as advertising for a pitch either in Aston or Handsworth.⁶¹ The situation was perhaps so dire that at least one club, Aston Manor, though clearly having an affinity to the area were perhaps forced by necessity to compete in an ’outside league competition’, in this case the Sutton and Erdington League.⁶²

The Ordnance Survey Map of Aston Manor, 1885 showing the Aston Unity, Aston Excelsior and the ALG.⁶³

Indeed so critical had become the situation in regards to the availability of suitable playing areas that in 1885, the Birmingham Baths and Parks Committee, because of the overuse of Aston Park sought to restrict all games on the land, including both football and cricket. In 1887, when the sporting area of the park was described as a ‘vast patch of black mud’ the Council actually banned football completely.⁶⁴ This move however provoked a storm of protest and through the pressure exerted by the local press the decision was rescinded.⁶⁵ However by the 1890s aspiring clubs still had the problem of finding a suitable pitch though at least in regards to Aston Park the price was not prohibitive, a fee of 1/- being levied, equating at approximately ½d per player.⁶⁶ This reliance on the park and by inference the lack of alternative open spaces is perhaps reflected by reports of individuals, in pursuit of a game risking the wrath of the local magistrates. One incident, during 1876 might be considered typical. Here it was reported that three boys were each fined 2/6d plus costs for ‘damaging the turf’ whilst playing on a field belonging to a Mr. Ansell of Park Road.⁶⁷

Of course for many young individuals, particularly those of school age participation would have often been reflected via activity in the street and road. This, did not, if the local papers are to be believed seem to have caused any discontent amongst the local population until the later years of our period. However, towards the turn of the century more and more reports began to appear of individuals being prosecuted for using the street as a pitch, perhaps due to the fact that the roads and streets were by this time considerably more congested. The Aston Chronicle, for example in 1889 reported of several appearances by children and young men before the local magistrates. A William Brown, a bird cage maker of 40, Kensington Street, was fined 2/6d including costs for obstructing the highway by the playing of football⁶⁸ whilst another, named Arthur Sands was fined 1/- following numerous complaints about his activity in the streets.⁶⁹ Clearly the situation had not seemingly changed, for, some sixteen years later, in 1905 it was reported that several young men had likewise fell foul of the law. Here a John Gough, of Clarendon Street, Arthur Richard and Arthur Inkcorn, both of Park Lane and a Frederick Smith were all summonsed and duly punished, all fined 2/6d except for the last boy who received a caution,⁷⁰ whilst in the following year the press again could report that two brothers Harold and Reubin Wilkins were both fined 5/- each for a similar offence.⁷¹ Indeed the perceived situation was such that, two years later, albeit with a modicum of understanding. The Aston News saw fit to state that:

Interestingly however a development which owes its emergence to a similar time, that of the youth organisation, ie The Boy Scouts and Boys Church Brigade surprisingly does not seem to have, at least initially immersed itself in football or indeed any other sporting pastime, though towards the end of our period these bodies did begin to contribute, as organisataions towards sporting recreation. Certainly in regards to football there appears to have only been one element, The Aston Church Brigade which initially had become involved. In this case the team seems to have satisfied itself playing friendly matches against other local junior sides.⁷⁶ Whether this omission was due to a lack of interest, which given the response by the young in general is unlikely or simply a lack of coverage by the press is unknown. Alternatively it could, of course been a response by the organisers of these movements against the rising tide of professionalism and competitiveness. Whatever the reason it would appear that these embryonic youth concerns did not follow the trend. This stance can perhaps indicate a recognition by these movement’s governing powers of a desire to stand firm against the fundamental changes that had occurred in attitudes towards competitive sporting activity. A situation it would seem had been arrived at that had witnessed a change from the Corinthian spirit to a more competitive and confrontational ethos.⁷⁷

However it might well have been this increasing realisation that the young of Aston Manor were interested in the game, and sporting recreation in general that led those in authority to accept there was a need to rationalise schoolboy football in the Manor. Though initially no interest in any form of sporting activity in regards to schools had been indicated by the Aston Manor School Board, by 1890 it and the educational establishments themselves through, it must be believed the efforts of the school teachers resulted in a change of attitude. That such a change had occurred was noted by, for example The Saturday Night newspaper. For when, in 1890 it detailed the history of schools football in the area it recognised that, in earlier years: “very little interest had been shown by the Board to encourage football.”⁷⁸

However prior to this undoubted change of attitude it is recorded that one school, Albert Road had indicated some thirty years previous that it was interested in forming sporting teams for the pupils. These recreations it was stated were to be provided under the ethos of ‘work while you work, play while you play,’⁷⁹ an ambition which failed through a lack of opponents. When eventually the school did achieve its ambitions, albeit in football only it prompted the comment:

Alma Street Vicarage Road

Aston Lane St. Mary’s

Vicarage Road Albert Road.

Cromwell Street, Burbury Street,

Osbourne Road, Burlington Street,

Station Road and the nearby Slade Road School, Erdington⁸¹

This quickly inspired further developments which resulted in another two competitions being introduced, The Aston Schools Challenge Cup, the trophy being donated by Aston Villa FC and The Aston School Board Challenge Shield, both being fashioned upon the ever popular FA Cup.⁸³ These competitions appear to have proved particularly popular provoking the illustrious and redoubtable Honorary Secretary Mr. J. MacGregor,⁸⁴ himself a national driving force within the game to state that, in regards to the former:

Unfortunately, due to a lack of coverage in the press there is little recorded in regards to these competitions apart from the fact that in the 1887 final of The Challenge Cup Gower Street defeated Albert Road 2-0 whilst in 1889, in The Challenge Shield in a rare report Albert Road are recorded as triumphing 2-0 over Lozells Street, both these matches being played on the Villa Ground, Perry Barr, Birmingham.⁸⁶ Additionally at the very end of our period, in 1911 it is recorded that Upper Thomas Street, the holders were defeated by St. Mary’s 2-1, the venue not being indicated.⁸⁷ However, because of the limited number of schools available it was decided very early on in the competitions history that, if it was to prosper it would require expansion. The result was that schools from outside the Manor were gradually admitted.

However, as can be expected within any competitive atmosphere there are always likely to be disagreements. One that clearly illustrates the desires that had pervaded these, and undoubtedly other such competitions was when the Bloomsbury Board School after competing a fixture against the Montgomery Street School (both from outside the Manor, in an unidentified competition) accused the latter of playing ineligible boys. As a result Mr. Johnstone of the Bloomsbury establishment demanded proof of the eligibility of the players concerned. Upon not receiving any answer he demanded and obtained, from the organising committee the disqualification of the offending school.⁸⁸ Such an attitude certainly indicates that these competitions were extremely competitive and had become an accepted element within the educational life of the schools. Another competition that was introduced to satisfy the competitive the demand was the Croucher Cup. Yet, as so often was the case this competition does not appear to have lasted many seasons. However it is recorded that yet again Lozells Street in one of the finals failed at the final hurdle, this time succumbing to the indomitable St. Mary 6-4. Significantly, given what has been mentioned previously in relation to the availability of pitches this final was played in Saltley, Birmingham.⁸⁹

However this disappointment might well have faded somewhat by 1896 when it would seem that three Lozells players were selected as part of the English Junior Team to play Scotland at no less a place than Villa Park, these individuals being Chattaway, Johnson and Skeldon. It would seem that only Skeldon actually figured in the match which England won 2-0. Interestingly however this match actually predates the official first Schoolboy international which was, according to the English Schools FA was played in 1907 between England and Wales at the Hillary Park Ground (later to be Fellows Park, home of Walsall FC), Walsall, being won by England 3-1. It could well be that though seemingly unofficial Aston Manor might be able to lay claim to possibly having staged the first ‘Schoolboy’ international football match ever.⁹⁰

This movement, of involving the schoolboy in the competitive atmosphere of football though initially viewed with suspicion by some was perhaps vindicated some years later by one of the leading educational figures of the day, Dr. Frank Fletcher. This gentleman, as headmaster of the prestigious Marlborough College believed the playing of schoolboy football and sport in general could be summed up as: “it is better to play a game or do something active yourself than to watch others playing,”⁹¹ an ethos which was, certainly within Aston Manor adopted with gusto. It is clear that by the end of our period the area had a vibrant and dedicated schoolboy football fraternity. The situation had perhaps been arrived at when the statement made, in regards to the playing of football, in The Birmingham Daily Mail might be believed to have summed up perfectly the current state of affairs within the Astom Manor area:
“Every season the newcomer (association football) is gradually encroaching upon its rival’s domain until one may be said to linger in the lap of the other. In our neighbourhood the football fixtures are unfinished before cricketers have entered upon their summer campaign. There is no logical reason why football should remain exclusively a winter sport, and thus the competitions may be brought still closer and closer until the deposition of cricket as the ‘national’ pastime may be still more forcibly demonstrated.”⁹²
Nevertheless, as successful as football was in developing a presence there can be little doubt that at the beginning of our period of interest it was cricket, as a recreational pursuit that took the first steps towards becoming a regular feature in Aston Manor. That this was the case is not perhaps surprising, for the game was already a firmly established recreational pastime during the time up to 1870.⁹³ Yet, despite the fact that it had featured on both the Lower Grounds and Aston Park it appears that it was initially Aston Park Unity who led the way. Formed in 1868 the club, during the early years of our period provided both a first and second XI and fulfilled a great number of fixtures. These games were, however often played away from the Manor, principally because initially the club did not have their own pitch.

There can be little doubt that they and the vast majority of teams in the area, like their footballing counterparts found it extremely difficult, outside of the park and Lower Grounds to obtain pitches. Indeed, even for such a club as Aston Manor Unity the cost was, even as early as 1868 as much as 2/6d per match.⁹⁴ It might well have been the case that for those teams of limited means pitches, when found might well have been hired or perhaps borrowed on the strength of increased takings from public houses that they were connected with. Of course it is highly likely that many would have played their fixtures outside of the Manor, St. Paul’s Lozells, for example often played in neighbouring Handsworth, though they did eventually play on Aston Park.